The Tricycle of Guest Service Excellence: A Perfect Model For Remarkable Experiences
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Spokane Tribe Resort & Casino Partners With Travel Outlook to Elevate Guest Service Experience
Travel Outlook, The Premier Hotel Call Center™ | October 2nd, 2024
Shaun Acosta Named Executive Resort Chef at Four Seasons Resort and Residences Napa Valley
December 16, 2020
Four Seasons Resort and Residences Napa Valley, the highly anticipated luxury resort in the heart of California’s famed wine region, announces the appointment of Shaun Acosta as its Executive Resort Chef. Following his tenure of more than a decade with Four Seasons properties in New York and Hawaii, Acosta joins the property alongside nationally acclaimed Erik Anderson, Executive Chef of TRUSS Restaurant and Bar, which is located on-site, establishing Four Seasons Resort and Residences Napa Valley as a world-class culinary destination with unparalleled talent. As Executive Resort Chef, Acosta will oversee the open-air Campo Pools...
How Concerning Is It When Contactless Self-Service Pushes More People Out of Work?
Linchi Kwok | December 16, 2020
By Linchi Kwok COVID-19 has accelerated a few foreseeable changes that the service industry expected for the future. For example, more consumers want delivery service since the pandemic hit in March. Restaurants, hotels, airlines, retailers, and shopping malls have extended their current contactless self-service offerings through mobile apps, kiosks, facial recognition, and palm recognition technologies. To embrace the growing demand for delivery and contactless self-service, many fast-food chains also introduced new restaurant designs, featuring double- or triple-drive-thru lanes, conveyor belt delivery, and food lockers for pick-up orders...
The St. Joe Company Announces Hotel Indigo® as Brand for Planned Hotel in Panama City’s Downtown Waterfront District
The St. Joe Company | December 16, 2020
PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla.-- --The St. Joe Company (NYSE: JOE) (“St. Joe”) announces Hotel Indigo®, a stylish and vibrant boutique hotel, as the brand for its planned hotel in Panama City’s downtown waterfront district. St. Joe intends to build, own and operate the previously announced hotel on a portion of the Panama City Marina property fronting St. Andrews Bay. The City and St. Joe completed a lease agreement on the property earlier in the year. Hotel Indigo is a part of a family of hotel brands from IHG® (InterContinental Hotels Group), one of the world’s leading hotel companies. Hotel Indigo properties are designed to be as in...
Service Properties Trust Completes Transfer of 12 Additional Hotels to Sonesta
Service Properties Trust | December 16, 2020
NEWTON, Mass. -- December 16, 2020 -- Service Properties Trust (Nasdaq: SVC), or SVC, today announced that it has completed the previously announced transition of branding and management for 12 hotels to Sonesta International Hotels Corporation, or Sonesta. This includes three hotels from InterContinental Hotels Group, plc, or IHG, located in Canada and Puerto Rico and nine hotels from Marriott International, Inc., or MAR. SVC entered short term agreements with Sonesta to manage these 12 hotels that expire on December 31, 2021. The three hotels transitioned from IHG are now operated under the Royal Sonesta and Sonesta ES Suites brands. Th...
Michelle Caporicci Appointed General Manager of Montage Big Sky Opening 2021
Montage Big Sky | December 16, 2020
ORANGE COUNTY, CALIF. (December 16, 2020) – Montage Hotels & Resorts is proud to announce the appointment of Michelle Caporicci as general manager of Montage Big Sky, set to open in 2021. With more than 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Caporicci will oversee all daily operations of the resort in Big Sky, Montana, located less than one hour from the Bozeman-Yellowstone International Airport and only 45-minutes from Yellowstone National Park. “We are proud to have Michelle lead the team in opening Montage Big Sky,” said Alan J. Fuerstman, founder, chairman and CEO of Montage International. “Michelle brings an...
New 148-Room Hyatt Place Saltillo Opens in Coahuila, México
Hyatt Place | December 16, 2020
SALTILLO, Coahuila (December 16,2020) – Hyatt Place Saltillo, the first Hyatt Place hotel in Coahuila is officially open, expanding the Hyatt Place brand’s footprint globally in markets that matter most to guests and World of Hyatt members. The new, 148-room hotel offers business and leisure travelers an open, intuitive design, casual atmosphere, and practical amenities, such as free Wi-Fi, 24-hour food offerings and the 24-hour fitness center. Because Hyatt’s efforts are grounded in listening and fueled by care, Hyatt Place hotels combine style, innovation and 24/7 conveniences to create an easy to navigate experience for today’s...
DoubleTree by Hilton Perth Waterfront Debuts in Western Australia
SKS Group | December 16, 2020
PERTH, Australia - Hilton (NYSE: HLT) today announced the opening of DoubleTree by Hilton Perth Waterfront, an 18-story, 229-room newly developed hotel, which is the latest addition to Hilton’s expanding portfolio in Western Australia. DoubleTree by Hilton Perth Waterfront is owned by SKS Group and managed by Hilton. “Opening the spectacular DoubleTree by Hilton Perth Waterfront today is a wonderful way to close out 2020,” said Heidi Kunkel, vice president, operations, Australasia, Hilton. “It represents the brand’s third hotel in Western Australia, which will be joined by new hotels, in Albany in 2021 and Busselton in 2022,...
IHG Unveils Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas Following 11-Month Renovation
IHG | December 16, 2020
16 December 2020 -- Leading luxury hotel brand, InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts unveiled Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas after an 11-month renovation, which saw the transformation of the exterior of the hotel, Club InterContinental Lounge and all guestrooms from the 7th floor to the 33rd floor. As the first international hotel brand in the Gangnam area of Seoul, the reopening marked a new standard set for a luxurious way of living. “2020 has definitely been a year of change for our hotel with the major renovation that we’ve done to commemorate the 30th anniversary of this hotel. With InterContinental Hotels & Resorts pi...
A New Look at Hotel Food and Beverage: White Paper Finds a Key to Post-COVID Recovery in the Dishroom
Dishcraft | December 16, 2020
Dishcraft sponsors special report to help address some of hotel food service’s biggest challenges SAN FRANCISCO – Dec. 16, 2020 – Dishcraft Robotics, an innovator in food and beverage operations for hotels, announced today its sponsorship of a white paper to present research and opinion by some of the hotel industry’s leading lights. “Hospitality F&B Reimagined: A New Look at the Hotel Kitchen” suggests that increased operational efficiency, cost savings and the promotion of a more balanced, sustainable, human ecosystem on property may begin in an unexpected place: the hotel dishroom. The white paper outlines new standa...
Davidson Hotels & Resorts Tapped to Manage Two Peoria Marriott Hotels
Davidson Hotels & Resorts | December 16, 2020
ATLANTA (December 16, 2020) – Award-winning hospitality management company, Davidson Hotels & Resorts, has been tapped by National Real Estate Advisors, LLC (National) to manage the Peoria Marriott Pere Marquette and Courtyard by Marriott Peoria Downtown. Situated in the business and entertainment district of downtown Peoria, Ill., the hotels are within walking distance of Caterpillar World Headquarters, OSF, Unity Point Methodist Hospitals, Peoria Civic Center and the celebrated Peoria RiverFront. With new management oversight, the historic Peoria Marriott Pere Marquette will undergo a renovation to refresh and modernize all guest r...
Nobody Asked Me, But… No. 241: Hotel History: Menger Hotel
Stanley Turkel | December 15, 2020
By Stanley Turkel, CMHS Hotel History: Menger Hotel (316 rooms) The Menger Hotel, one of the most iconic and historically significant buildings in San Antonio, was constructed on Alamo Plaza in 1859 by German immigrants Mary and William Menger. Mary arrived in San Antonio in 1846 and when her husband died soon after her arrival, she opened a boarding house. The building provided studio space for renowned sculptor Gutzor Borglum, most famous for his work at Mt. Rushmore. After William Menger opened the Menger Brewery in 1855, he married Mary and the success of the Brewery operation led to the construction of the Menger Hotel. The orig...
International Travel Can Safely Restart, Without Waiting for Vaccines, Says WTTC and Industry Bodies
WTTC | December 15, 2020
15/12/2020, London, UK: The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and major international industry bodies have joined forces to call for the immediate restoration of international travel using proven processes and without waiting for or requiring vaccinations. WTTC, which represents the global Travel & Tourism private sector, along with Airports Council International (ACI), the World Economic Forum (WEF), International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), say the world cannot wait for the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines. WTTC recognises that public health is paramount and welcomes the recent roll out of the game changing vaccines, which i...
The Top 8 Travel Trends That Hotels Need to Act On to Capture Demand in 2021
Dori Stein | December 15, 2020
By Dori Stein - Chief Executive Officer, Fornova The travel and hospitality industry has shown its mettle during 2020 - rising to the challenges that Covid-19 has thrown at it and doing everything it can to survive. It's not been without its casualties. Now, with the prospect of a vaccine, hotels have to be on the front foot to win whatever demand is out there and secure heads in beds. When the vaccine becomes widely available, we expect the leisure market to return more quickly than business travel which will lag considerably. There are eight key trends that I believe we will see during 2021. Consumers will be more price-consc...
Valor Hospitality Appoints Leadership Team for Kimpton Banneker Hotel Opening Early 2021
The Banneker | December 15, 2020
WASHINGTON, D.C., Dec. 15, 2020 – The Kimpton Banneker Hotel, managed by Valor Hospitality Partners, announced today the appointment of Raeshawna Scott as General Manager and Dennis Hernandez as Director of Sales and Marketing. The 144-room euro-modern luxury boutique hotel, set to open in the heart of Washington, D.C. in early 2021, will immerse guests in the rich history and urban culture of the nation’s capital with nods to profound figures like Benjamin Banneker and Claudia Alta "Lady Bird" Johnson. As general manager, Scott will lead day-to-day hotel operations, guest relations and team development ...
Outlook for the Latin American Hotel Industry
HVS | December 15, 2020
By Richard J. Katzman , Maxim Gómez, Patricia Badiuk, Lorea Arnoldi, Alonso Buitrón, and Rod Clough The COVID-19 pandemic and resulting restrictions on domestic and international travel, economic activity, and individual movement are having an unprecedented impact on the lodging and tourism industry in Latin America and worldwide. While government authorities across the region work to manage restrictions and phased reopening plans, uncertainty prevails over the duration of the global pandemic. What started as a health crisis with tragic consequences for victims of COVID-19 morphed over the course of the year into a deep economic downtu...
Women in Travel: Companies Can Benefit From a Leadership Team Mirroring Their Greatest Consumer
The Global Business Travel Association | December 15, 2020
Alexandria, Virginia (December 15, 2020) - In the final 2020 session of its Collaboratory webinar series, the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) – the world’s largest business travel association – welcomed Arlene Coyle, Vice President of Commercial Corporations for Amadeus to discuss her career journey and the importance of having women in influential leadership roles. For this WINiT recommended session, GBTA Interim Executive Director Dave Hilfman served as moderator and discussed with Coyle her 20 years of experience in the managed travel and technology industry and how the individual – led by technology, convenience and l...
Choice Signs With VRL Hotels to Develop Two New Cambria Hotels in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
Cambria Hotels | December 15, 2020
ROCKVILLE, Md., Dec. 15, 2020 -- Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH) has awarded franchise agreements to Victor Patel of VRL Hotels to develop new Cambria Hotels in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. These agreements further the upscale brand's traction in Tennessee, which includes the already open Cambria Hotel Nashville Downtown as well as soon-to-open Cambria Hotel Nashville Airport and a future property in Nashville's West End neighborhood. These proposed hotels will join other Cambria locations in top vacation destinations like Anaheim, California; Madeira Beach, Florida; Charleston, South Carolina;...
Wyndham Debuts Super 8 Brand in UAE Alongside Wyndham Dubai Deira
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts | December 15, 2020
PARSIPPANY, N.J., Dec. 15, 2020 -- Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, the world's largest hotel franchising company with approximately 9,000 hotels across 90 countries, today announced its continued expansion across the UAE with the opening of the 290-room upscale Wyndham® Dubai Deira, and the 94-key Super 8® by Wyndham Dubai Deira—its first property in the country under the well-known economy brand. Located in the historic area of Deira, the newly opened hotels are the first in the highly anticipated Deira Enrichment Project and part of a strategic effort by Wyndham to meet travelers' growing demand for accommodations at varying pric...
Hyatt Regency Cape Town Opens in South Africa
Hyatt Regency | December 15, 2020
CHICAGO (December 15, 2020) - Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) today announced the opening of Hyatt Regency Cape Town, the first Hyatt-branded property in the “Mother City.” Situated at the foot of the iconic Table Mountain, the 137-room Hyatt Regency Cape Town represents Hyatt’s growing brand presence across Africa. It joins eight existing properties on the continent and is the second Hyatt hotel in South Africa. The Hyatt Regency brand is designed for productivity in mind, delivering seamless experiences addressing the needs of both business and leisure travelers. Services and amenities include a memorable culinary experience,...
IHG Celebrates Groundbreaking of Mexico’s second avid™ Hotel in Guadalajara
IHG | December 15, 2020
IHG® Hotels & Resorts, one of the world’s leading hotel companies, announced today that construction has started on the second avid hotel in Mexico. Expected to open in late 2021, the avid Guadalajara will be a 124-room hotel owned by Grupo Ferran. This groundbreaking builds upon the momentum and international expansion of the avid hotels brand – there are more than 200 new avid hotels under development worldwide, with Mexico’s first avid hotel opening in Fresnillo in June and the first avid hotel in Canada breaking ground in October. Grupo Ferran has a second avid hotel also under development in Guadalajara. The avid Guada...
IHG Partners With Tuyet Lien Son Co Ltd for voco Brand in Vietnam
IHG | December 15, 2020
IHG Hotels & Resorts will expand its upscale voco™ brand to Vietnam next year through an exciting partnership with Tuyet Lien Son Co Ltd, which will mark the first opening under the voco brand in South East Asia. Already near completion, the stunning voco Ma Belle Danang property is ideally located next to the beachfront along the main thoroughfare of the coastal city. The 290-room hotel seamlessly combines the informality and charm of an individual property with the quality and reassurance of a globally renowned brand. It signals the latest development in the growth of voco, inspired by the Latin word for 'to invite' or 'come ...
Marriott International Signs Agreement With Grupo Hoteles Panamericano to Bring the Sheraton Hotels Brand to Patagonia Region
Marriott International, Inc. | December 15, 2020
Marriott International announced today that is has signed an agreement with Grupo Hoteles Panamericano to bring the iconic Sheraton Hotels brand to Bariloche, a major tourism center located in the foothills of the Argentinean Andes. Slated to debut in January 2022, the property is expected to feature 161 rooms after undergoing an extensive conversion. Located in Bariloche’s city center atop an elevation with outstanding views to the Nahuel Huapi Lake, Sheraton Bariloche, currently branded as Hotel Panamericano Bariloche, is situated just steps from San Martín street- the destination’s buzzing entertainment center featuring a broad sel...
Eco-Conscious Element Brand Expands in the Middle East With the Opening of Element Al Jaddaf
Element by Westin | December 15, 2020
Element Hotels, part of Marriott International, today announced the opening of Element Al Jaddaf in one of Dubai’s emerging districts. Element Al Jaddaf presents an eco-friendly concept for guests seeking to maintain a balanced lifestyle while travelling. Inspired by nature and with a bright aesthetic, Element Al Jaddaf features streamlined furnishings in light natural tones with touches of greenery. The hotel’s relaxed and enriching atmosphere together with its ergonomic design, quiet nooks, sun filled spaces, and pet-friendly amenities evoke a feeling of comfort and home. “Element is a recognized industry leader in the longer-s...
U.S. Travel Statement on COVID Relief Talks
U.S. Travel Association | December 15, 2020
WASHINGTON (December 15, 2020)—U.S. Travel Association Executive Vice President for Public Affairs and Policy Tori Emerson Barnes issued the following statement on COVID-19 relief negotiations in Washington: “It will be important to watch how the process plays out over the next few days, but we are encouraged by the clear bipartisan support for a measure that would help save some of the 4.5 million travel and tourism jobs that are projected to be lost by year’s end. “Travel and tourism, which supported employment for one in 10 Americans pre-pandemic, has been spiraling for months while a relief agreement has remained just beyond...
